Unfinished or oil stained Cocobolo cues
- Thread starter Hidy Ho
- Start date
rash I believe, much like poison ivy, would be the most common. My dad is a wood worker and has a friend that made a cocobolo toilet seat. The guys wife had a reaction *l*.
Would think you'd have to be very allergic to have a reaction from anything but shavings and dust.
(not a cuemaker, nor do I have any special knowledge, but I did spend the night in my bed last night)
Would think you'd have to be very allergic to have a reaction from anything but shavings and dust.
(not a cuemaker, nor do I have any special knowledge, but I did spend the night in my bed last night)
A cue would be no problem. It is the dust from sawing and sanding that triggers reactions and these are usually rashes.
It is the oils in the dust and wood that cause problems and these quickly dissipate once the wood is cut. A cue would be minimally dangerous for the first few hours after turning.
It is the oils in the dust and wood that cause problems and these quickly dissipate once the wood is cut. A cue would be minimally dangerous for the first few hours after turning.
I don't have have alot of skin allergies, so I'm probably not the best source for the answer, but I would imagine as mentioned, You would see redness or sign of a rash. I think I have actually got a slight bit of redness on My hands when knee deep in the dust once, but nothing that didn't go away quickly.
Also mentioned, In dust form You would probably Be much more vulnerable to allergic reaction, but as with most allergies, some people are more effected then others, so who knows how It could effect the individual. It's always possible It could effect any one person with a much more serious reaction then others. Some people are highly allergic to certain things, and just a touch can set them off.
I really have no major skin allergies to coco, regardless of if in dust form, but It does have an effect on the lungs & nose when I breath the dust in for longer periods of time, as most any allergies I have are related to sinus issues. The person working with the stuff definatly should wear a mask.
Also mentioned, In dust form You would probably Be much more vulnerable to allergic reaction, but as with most allergies, some people are more effected then others, so who knows how It could effect the individual. It's always possible It could effect any one person with a much more serious reaction then others. Some people are highly allergic to certain things, and just a touch can set them off.
I really have no major skin allergies to coco, regardless of if in dust form, but It does have an effect on the lungs & nose when I breath the dust in for longer periods of time, as most any allergies I have are related to sinus issues. The person working with the stuff definatly should wear a mask.
I have never had Poison Ivy, Never Been to the Hospital, Never Had a Cavity, Never Had Chicken Pox or measles so I thought I was pretty much immune to this stuff.
I was for a while. Now if I just face some off, my eyes all swell up and are all red for days. It seems to be getting worse and worse and is starting to happen around the bottom of my nose as well.
My wife bought me a full face respirator and I thought that would help. I cut a piece for a butt cap that was already round. I probably took about .005" off a 4" piece of wood while wearing the respirator. I had the same results.
I'm to the point that I don't think I will use this wood for anymore cues once the two I have on order are complete, unless somebody wants to give me an extreme amount of money (and even then I may decline).
It's a shame. It was always one of my favorite woods.
I was for a while. Now if I just face some off, my eyes all swell up and are all red for days. It seems to be getting worse and worse and is starting to happen around the bottom of my nose as well.
My wife bought me a full face respirator and I thought that would help. I cut a piece for a butt cap that was already round. I probably took about .005" off a 4" piece of wood while wearing the respirator. I had the same results.
I'm to the point that I don't think I will use this wood for anymore cues once the two I have on order are complete, unless somebody wants to give me an extreme amount of money (and even then I may decline).
It's a shame. It was always one of my favorite woods.
Tony, I got this cue right after talking with you (not Tony's cue). Not sure if it's imaginary or power of mind but I saw redness in my hands and minor itches thus this posting.
It might be just in my head as momma always told me "mind is a terrible thing to waste" as she looked at me
It might be just in my head as momma always told me "mind is a terrible thing to waste" as she looked at me
i don't thim anyone is immune to Cocobolo and once you get got by it,it will get worse everytime.i think they call it a sensitizer.i have ssen Alex get small red bumps similar to poison oak under his watch band and under his ring,but i have never had a reaction from touching it.
mine was worse it weas from breathing too much dust and i got hundreds of red welts all over my body that stayed for over a week.they didn't reallyitch but they were painful.
you should get someone local to spin it in a lathe and put some type of oil finish on it.
mine was worse it weas from breathing too much dust and i got hundreds of red welts all over my body that stayed for over a week.they didn't reallyitch but they were painful.
you should get someone local to spin it in a lathe and put some type of oil finish on it.
I have noticed that the respiratory part seems worse each time, so I could kind of buy into the sleeper theory mentioned here. The first time I used It I didn't notice any effects either. The second time I did, third time noticed alittle more, and so on. I have had alittle bit of redness on My knuckles before too as I mentioned, and they probably iched some, but I guess I've been lucky, cause I haven't broke out in hives or anything. Maybe that's only a matter of time too though.
it was from stupidity.when i first started working for Alex i had bought some bigger boards and we were cutting them up on a table saw.he said ,"better get your mask on."i said,"no i'm cool,i'll just stand over by the garage door when you're cutting and i'll wear it when i cut."
i always thought i was pretty much immune to everything,but after i blew my nose later that day and it was all orange and red and purple(Madgascar Rosewood)i knew i was in for it.ever since then i am careful about breathing any of the Rosewoods.
i always thought i was pretty much immune to everything,but after i blew my nose later that day and it was all orange and red and purple(Madgascar Rosewood)i knew i was in for it.ever since then i am careful about breathing any of the Rosewoods.
As a completed cue, there should be no problems.
Mexican kingwood also known as camateo is another problem rosewood. Two other woods that can cause allergic reactions are bloodwood and bocote. Dust landing on sweaty hands and arms is especially likely to cause problems.
Exposure to these woods produces a cumulative effect ands you do become more sensitive the longer you work with them. My father-in-law told of a frriend who had a cutlery factory that tried cocobolo for handles. It was fine for about a year then he had increasing numbers of sick employees and stopped using the wood. Problem solved.
It would be easier to not use the wood if it didn't look so good and play so well.
Mexican kingwood also known as camateo is another problem rosewood. Two other woods that can cause allergic reactions are bloodwood and bocote. Dust landing on sweaty hands and arms is especially likely to cause problems.
Exposure to these woods produces a cumulative effect ands you do become more sensitive the longer you work with them. My father-in-law told of a frriend who had a cutlery factory that tried cocobolo for handles. It was fine for about a year then he had increasing numbers of sick employees and stopped using the wood. Problem solved.
It would be easier to not use the wood if it didn't look so good and play so well.
Tony Zinzola said:
Tony, just out of curiousity, do you run an air cleaner while doing any cutting, etc? Not a dust collector vac, but a ceiling hanging unit. Another question, did you take off the resperator while still in the shop, right after finishing the cutting? The dust floats in the air for a while after, I have an air cleaner hanging from the ceiling, and the outside filter always ends up turning the color of the wood that I happen to be cutting.
You could try a air cleaner, wear the hood for all steps concerning the coco bola and then leave the area when finished, then remove the hood, followed by a quick shower to rid yourself of any dust. Another thing that I do is take an allergy pill, like claritin before working on wood that you know affects you. I found that sometimes it helps alot. Good luck.
Dave
Troy,
Your sensitivity is to the point where you really shouldn't use the wood. Any exposure not only produces a reaction but it also makes you even more sensitive. Think of it as a bio-hazard, because for you, that is what it is.
Your sensitivity is to the point where you really shouldn't use the wood. Any exposure not only produces a reaction but it also makes you even more sensitive. Think of it as a bio-hazard, because for you, that is what it is.
cocobolo
i cut cocobolo for some time before it got me, now it takes very little exposure to "get" me. like poison ivy. once you become sensitized to it, imagine the inside of your lungs,,,it can kill you. you have to be careful.
as far as the oil, it doesnt go anywhere, i have some rounds in the shop that were cut 6 years ago, put a little acetone on a paper towel and rub it, it turns almost black, so i would say playing with unfinished cocobolo isnt the smartest thing to do. good luck
i cut cocobolo for some time before it got me, now it takes very little exposure to "get" me. like poison ivy. once you become sensitized to it, imagine the inside of your lungs,,,it can kill you. you have to be careful.
as far as the oil, it doesnt go anywhere, i have some rounds in the shop that were cut 6 years ago, put a little acetone on a paper towel and rub it, it turns almost black, so i would say playing with unfinished cocobolo isnt the smartest thing to do. good luck